Fraoch Heather Ale - Williams Brothers Brewing Company

Arno

4.61/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

appearance: Pale yellow with small white head.

smell: Hard to put my finger on it. It's a kind of herbal, medicinal, nectar, flower and tea like smell.

taste: Herbal tea and light floral malt taste. I get a touch of lavender and a bit of nectar/honey sweetness. It's hard to pin-point what's exactly going on. It just works and is lovely balanced.

mouthfeel: It's like satin. Very smooth. Medium carbonation. Has a dry finish and leaves a lovely after-taste, wanting more.

overall: I'm quite surprised by this beer. It's not your regular ale and definitely has a unique flavor combo going on. I love the creamy like round feeling of the taste and mouthfeel. It's very fluid and refreshing, yet with a dry finish and leaves you with a after-taste that wants more. What more could you ask for? I just love it.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 23:04:22 | More by Arno

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from 10/2010 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a light orange amber with a slight head and a hint of lacing. Aroma of wheat with a slight adjunct component. Flavor is light wheat with some floral elements, light citrus and light malt. The heather element redeems this ale, which otherwise would be pretty uninspiring. It would be nice to try a more intense attempt at this style. Glad to have tried it, but would not revisit in this form.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 03:06:29 | More by LiquidAmber

EmperorBevis

United Kingdom (England)

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden bodied with good lasting thick white head.

A very aromatic beer, candied peel, vanilla and a whiff of lavender.
Lightly herbed taste, with malts and hints of blueberries and ginger notes with a slight peppery finish.

The epitome, I guess of easy drinking. bright and
breezy expertly blended to get away with the spritely carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 19:06:04 | More by EmperorBevis

engisch

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy orange / straw color with thin white head.

Smell is earthy with a graininess and a slight sweetness.

Taste is earthy and sweet. It has an interesting bitterness that is light and pleasant.

Mouthfeel is light to medium body.

And interesting brew. I can imagine ancient Scots downing a lot of these. Tasty, but not overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:16:49 | More by engisch

FosterJM

California

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1372nd Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
500ml

Best by June 2013
Purchased from Total Wine Brea. ($3.99 IIRC)

App- In the glass had a pretty hazy looking orange with a bit of yellow. A light orb looking color with some floating bubbles and a small 1 finger head with some bubbles around edges vs. lace cling. AAL meets IPA coloring and app.

Smell- Light, Really no other way to put it. Its not offensive, its not overly aromatic. Has a simple bit of malts and earthy quality. Just kinda there.

Taste- Really light but tasty. A little bit of an herbal flavor with some what I would say hibiscus as never had a heather or something like this. A bit of earth rounds out the flavors and its like a mix of a anise/pepper/lager/malt flavor. Unique layered and tasty.

Mouth- A lighter bodied beer with a medium carbonation but the delicateness of the body makes it very good. Has what I cant put my finger on with a feathery flutter or a softness behind it.

Drink- Its a nice beer. Very new, very unique but something people should try. I would like to drink again. Sits well on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 22:20:54 | More by FosterJM

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours medium orange with a foamy white head. No lace.

Nice sweet resinous aroma. You get the heather here, even some floral notes.

Lean toasted malt, some herbal bitterness, a little piney note, some light but watery sweetness, light bitterness and malt in the finish. I like the character, but not the strength of this.

A little watery, but the body still works.

Overall, nice brew, but there is something missing. Depth? Strength? Easy to drink, and I really like the heather element. Good brew, but not great brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 00:17:20 | More by OtherShoe2

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - As confirmed by others it's a fairly clear orange yellow with a 1/4 inch of head that fizzes out rather quickly.

S - Smells of Scottish malts and sweet honey like notes. Some hops as well.

T - This beer impressed me greatly. At first when it was cold I got some grain and Scottish malt that reminded me of a malty pale ale. But when it warmed it got an almost cherry cordial/wine like finish that had me puzzled. Was it from the heathers, Scottish malts or a combination of both? Weird yet enjoyable.

M - Medium bodied and full of flavor.

Overall quite an odd brew which is expected from the same guys that bring you "Kelpie (seaweed beer)" Worth a try to have more Scottish beers under your belt.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 03:36:22 | More by DrDemento456

ONUMello

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Pours a light orange-ish yellow with a short head that disappears in a flash
S: Honey, orange and fruit esters. Very sweet smell.
T: Honey, orange flower, light malt and something pleasant I can't place- probably the heather.
M: Medium-bodied and very enjoyable carbonation. Definitely the best part of the beer.
O: Tasty, enjoyable to sit and sip.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 22:51:17 | More by ONUMello

Dave1999

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The appearance is light amber almost transparent with a very small white head.

The smell is malty, hoppy and earthy.

The taste is sweet malty with a honey taste.

The mouthfeel medium bodied with very little carbonation.

Overall a very enjoyable beer not complex but good tasting.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 01:52:52 | More by Dave1999

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle to Founders tulip. B/B JUL 2013

A - Light brown with plenty of golden/yellow glow throughout. Half a finger of light bully off-white head formed and receded to a thin layer.

S - Fairly big sweetness up front with plenty of caramel and bready aromas. Some herbal aromas and a slight bitterness are present in the background.

T - Sweetness up front with bready/cereal flavours and some caramel. Some floral and herbal notes are present along with a slight hop bitterness.

M - Light to medium body with moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 00:01:48 | More by TheSevenDuffs

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter.

4.0 A: Lightly hazed dark orange color. Two and a half fingers of frothy off-white head. Retention is good and a good amount of lacing is left.

4.0 S: This heather ale does not disappoint on the heather. Herbal and flowery in the most genuine way possible. Sweet, somewhat biscuity malts underneath. Not overly complex, but powerful and wonderful.

4.0 T: Big hit of heather in the taste as well. The base beer comes out a lot stronger and that is mighty tasty as well. Grainy with a a solid toastiness. Lightly biscuity with a mild and well fitted sweetness.

3.5 M: Lighter medium body. Maybe a tad too much carbonation, but it's fine. Fluffy on the tongue with a crisp finish.

4.0 D: Good beer that works the heather in seemlessly. Solid all around.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 02:03:20 | More by DavoleBomb

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Date on the bottle says that this is best before september 2012.

Poured from a 500Ml bottle into a Blatz Glass.

A- A slightly copper like orange in color it has a thin bubbly head that dissipates somewhat quickly after being poured. The head leaves a thin lacing dancing upon the top of the beer and a rich looking white ring around the edges of the glass. Large amount of visible bubbles from carbonation. The form allows a generous amount of light penetration.

S- The smell is sweet and floral with a hint of fruitiness and spices from what I'm assuming is the barley. The smell of heather is definitely present along with some notes of lighter fruits(aka berries and apples). There is also a distinguished malt presence that gives it its spicier aroma while at the same time adding to the sweetness.

T- The taste is very interesting, while malty it has a very unique floral flavor to it imparted from the heather. While there is a slight malt forward breadiness upon first taking a sip, you are quickly diverted over to the taste of spicy flowers that imparts a bit of a sweetness of its own. The finish is somewhat mild with a slight floral bitterness.

M- Most definitely a medium to full body on this one with mild to low carbonation. Slightly chewy.

O- A very interesting style and much different from what I was expecting. Both the taste and the mouthfeel of this beer really surprised me. I was not expecting it to be as thick and full bodied as it was and I was expecting a much more intense earthiness from the heather. I would actually buy this again not necessarily to drink for myself but definitely to bring to a tasting or as a gift. I could see this beer being a big hit at weddings or spring themed parties. Very unique and worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 22:10:09 | More by Zachtheporter

Groulxsome

Ontario (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A bottle (best before June 2013) poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Fairly mundane. It's a slightly copper-orange color with very little head that just lingers around the side of the glass.

Smell: Amazing! I get something almost like dried peaches, some really funky, almost black tea like smells, some amazing floral. I also get the root-beer/cola funky kind of smell I've gotten from other Gruit beers. It's a smell that I just love.

Taste: A bit of malt, lots of floral and fruit aromas. The smell had a hint of dried peach, this has a last more like peach blossoms. It's also got that murky, almost musky, bog taste. It finishes with a rewarding bitter. The only way to make this better in my opinion is to make that heather taste even stronger, like I was really hoping for.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, but a really creamy mouthfeel with some nice foam-y action. Very dry finish.

Overall: I'm a sucker for the taste of Gruit, so this review is biased pretty heavily. I'd drink this instead of an American Pale Ale any day. It's light and refreshing. It's got that wonderful Gruit taste and great welcoming bitter. Why don't more people make this style of beer?

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 01:24:57 | More by Groulxsome

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter, the bottle was shared to gain varying options. The color was a measured pale golden color with a modest level of carbonation to bubble. A strong honey aroma attracts attention of the senses, noting a sense of sweetness. Upon the initial taste, a sweet and smooth taste was noted. With a honey taste and aroma present, it brought to mind a honey mead. The backbone of the beer was the flowery heather notes with a slight wheat sweetness. In truth, there were few characteristics of beer present. On the other hand, I enjoyed the texture and was surprised by the taste. I am not certain it would be something I would drink in the future. It is still recorded as a positive experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 21:47:13 | More by JohnnyHopps

Sharkophile

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured into a pint glass, appears a clear golden color with some orange hues with a decent sized white head. Not much retention or lacing.

S: This is where things get interesting, with clean malt, honey and a lovely grassy, floral aroma from the herbs.

T: Clean, buiscuty toasted malt with a hint of caramel, followed by the same lovely grassy and floral flavor which ends in a long, dry finish with hints of toasted grain and herbs.

M: Light to medium body with a lively carbonation. Perhaps a bit finer carbonation would be a step up.

O: Very interesting beer, very happy I got to try this unique and ancient style. Hopefully more to come.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 06:44:39 | More by Sharkophile

slyke

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fraoch Heather Ale pours an orange-gold color with a pillowy white head that settles to a nice full cap. Lots of carbonation bubbles stick to the side of the glass - some lacing as well.

The aroma is floral and sweet like caramel.

The taste begins with a strong note of the floral and caramel flavors that fade as the beer warms sitting on the tongue.

Light to medium bodied mouthfeel that slightly coats and lingers at the finish.

Overall this is a nice beer that is different from what you'd expect by the presence of the heather. Worth finding and trying.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 20:56:26 | More by slyke

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.18/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle. Kwak Yard glass. Enjoyed on may´11. Bright light copper in color. Chill haze. Off-white dense froth, brief crown. Intense floral fragancy & malty aroma. Crisp & spicy flavor , subtle fresh mint hues. Earthy & sweet palate. Medium/light body. Tea-like finish. Apple notes on the aftertaste. Refreshing, flavorful. Very easy drinkability. Balanced smooth flavors & aromas. Comment. A mandatory ,almost representing a single Style in itself, beer

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 17:38:30 | More by GONZALOYANNA

superspak

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle into pint glass, best by Aug 2012. Pours a hazy golden orange color with a 1-2 finger dense white head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of honey, biscuit, pepper, herbs, light fruit, flower petals, earth, and yeasty spiciness. Some pretty nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of biscuit, honey, caramel, toffee, citrus, floral, clove, herbs, grass, and yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of honey, caramel, toffee, biscuit, and herbal spices on the finish for a bit. Great balance of malt and spiciness; with a nice and robust malt backbone for a 5% beer. Medium carbonation and body; with a nice and creamy mouthfeel. Alcohol is very well hidden with barely any warming noticed after the finish. Very smooth and easy to drink. Overall this is an excellent herbal ale. Great flavor balance and highly enjoyable to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 03:09:57 | More by superspak

themind

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Received this beer as a gift. Wow! the drinkability of this beer is way up there with the best. The mouthfeel is smooth and refreshing.

The taste is good but could be more pronounced. The hops are slight and the carbonation is very light.

This is the first time I have had this beer, it was a treat and I would buy it if I saw it on a shelf.

Bottom Line: try it! it's worth a look.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 16:11:18 | More by themind

RTEdmunds

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A murky golden color, with a bubbly white head that dissipates after a few moments.

A bouquet of floral and herbal notes, with some underlying citrus fruit. Smells yeasty and sweet.

Initially tastes a bit like tea, followed by some rosemary sweetness. The herb/spice profile is by no means overpowering; it's present but doesn't kick you in the face.

Well carbonated, and has a pleasant dry finish. Clean and refreshing, little aftertaste.

This was my first encounter with this style. Very intriguing if you're in the mood.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 03:39:23 | More by RTEdmunds

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Fraoch Heather Ale pours a light sherry-colored brown with a one-fingered head that lingers like an unwanted guest. The smell is malty and relatively straight forward -- I get little else, maybe just a hint of very faint herbs. Fraoch tastes dry, herby and wine-like, and I get grapes and floral notes on the finish. I'm no expert on this style, but Fraoch is very subtle, not in your face at all. It's clearly different, decently drinkable, and a change up from your every day beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 21:07:45 | More by WoodBrew

ryantho00

Michigan

2.83/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I will warn you, I purchased this beer in march 2012, and its best buy date was September 2011, so a few months have passed...didn't realize it until I got home.

Im not sure if this brew had gone a little sour or sour, but this was not a nice experience for me. Nothing that was undrinkable but pretty close.

The best way I can describe this is carbonated mead. It was too overpowering with the fruity, honey, weird yeastiness nose and taste that put me off. To its credit, there was absolutely no bad aftertaste.

Like I said, could have been just going bad, these probably wont age well at all (style of beer, and low abv), but if I had a fresher bottle, id try it again. Too sweet for my liking though I can definatly taste honey and yeasty fruit throughout. Not many hops or malts (light toasted breadiness as far as it goes for the malts) in the taste.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 01:37:30 | More by ryantho00

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Light golden yellow/ white 1/2 creamy head , not much lacing.

Smell - Herbal fruits, malts, some sugars, a saision/yeast aroma. Grassy, earthly, light and fresh aroma.

Taste - much like the smell, light spices, herbal/tea like flavor. Malts are very light and just add slight boldness. Has a saision feel to it, and with all the spices. Added sugars and a little floralness round it out.

Mouthfeel - Light, smooth and very refreshing. Tounge and palette both get spices, herbs, light hops and sugars. Aftertaste is sweet, fruity and a bit light.

Overall - This is really good. Very mild and refreshing. Has a tea like flavor and feel thats really nice. It Really reminds me of a mead and a saision, with a little green tea spice note. This was tasty, and man what a great light, easy to drink summer beer. Give this a try for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 00:04:53 | More by wvsabbath

Hoplomachus

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer surprised me. I usually prefer a hoppier/more bitter brew, but the Fraoch Heather Ale was so good I was inspired to write my first BA review.

Poured half of a 16.9 bottle into a glass expecting a light yellow color but was surprised to see a rich yellowish-orange hue. Not much of a head and carbonation was mild.

The taste was somewhat sweet and complex, almost a honey-like finish with no unpleasant after-taste.

Not too strong, but you still know you're drinking beer.

I would not rate this higher than one of my favorite IPAs, but it is definitely worth drinking again.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 01:32:51 | More by Hoplomachus

dorianmarley

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is opaque yellow-brown; like an iced tea. Head is light and white, but never completely fades. Lacing is there, but doesn't stick too much.

Nose is floral hops and light, caramel malt. There is also orange blossom and biscuit, with some mealiness.

Taste is complex and similar to a Belgian Dubbel or Dark Strong without the bite. Light biscuit and caramel are up first, fading into floral tea, white pepper and honey.

Mouthfeel is smooth and refreshing with medium carbonation.

Overall, this is unique, complex, and still goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 02:25:28 | More by dorianmarley